Feds may OK helicopter landings in Frank Church Wilderness

The U.S. Forest Service could today approve a request from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to land helicopters in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness to put radio collars on wolves. Approval of the landings in such a remote area would be certain to rile environmental groups, many of whom Regional Forester Harv Forsgren visited personally within the last week to inform of his intentions. It’s the second time since 2005 that Fish and Game has proposed the landings. Under federal law, it’s already allowed to fly over the area. The state is asking to touch down up to 20 times in the wilderness to put collars on up to 12 wolves. At least one official has argued the department has authority to land, even without federal permission. Forest Service regional spokeswoman Erin O’Connor said Thursday afternoon that Forsgren expects to issue his decision today. If he approves the state’s request, he would then authorize Salmon-Challis National Forest Supervisor Bill Wood to issue the permit for the landings. Even brief touchdowns aren’t acceptable to a number of conservation groups watching the issue. John Robison of ICL and Jessica Ruehrwein of the Sierra Club said they’re concerned about what kind of precedent approval would set. Groups also worry what the state will do with the information it gathers, though they want to keep the discussion from being swallowed up by the wolf debate...read more